Gone are the days when looking for a new role meant trawling through a newspaper or even browsing a recruitment website. Now you can use the power of social media to bring the right job direct to you. However, there is a little work to do first to make your search more effective. Let’s look at three of the key sites, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, and see how you can use them in differing ways to find that perfect position.
Facebook is the place where the majority of us interact with friends and family and therefore it’s a great way to find those word-of-mouth jobs which may not even have been advertised yet. One word of caution here which is true of all the social media platforms, but maybe even more so of Facebook, is that just as we can find jobs through social media, so companies can find out more about us. If you have a tendency to publicise your private life on Facebook, including photos of social events which might be better off forgotten, bear in mind that external sources can view this information unless you tighten your privacy settings. In addition, if you are friends with anyone at your present company on Facebook it may become apparent to your colleagues and even your boss you are looking for a new job.
If you hold no such concerns then actively use Facebook to find new vacancies via friends and family and let as many people as possible know you are seeking a new role; as they can then spread the word to their own network. You can also join Facebook groups for your local area as vacancies will often be added here early in the recruitment process.
Twitter is a great place to keep up to date with your industry’s news and to follow brands who you may be interested in working for. Many companies will even advertise their vacancies across Twitter via regular updates; in fact it’s often the first place to be updated when a vacancy goes live, so this gives you the ability to be amongst the early applicants.
Twitter also allows you to easily carry out background research and to find out more about the businesses you apply to. This is essential as you will doubtless be asked about your company knowledge should you progress to interview stage. To find the most up-to-date information follow the profiles of a few people at the company, especially if you can find a member of the department you would like to work for.
LinkedIn is probably the social media platform that most people think of first when they are looking for new employment. This is a platform which values real life knowledge of someone, so try to connect with as many past and present colleagues as possible. You can also write recommendations for people you have worked with directly and this will often prompt them to do the same for you, a big benefit when it comes to prospective employers viewing your profile.
It is essential that your LinkedIn profile is completed as fully as possible. Add detail for every job on your CV and always include what you as an individual will bring to a role. It’s also important to include details of your education. Here, you should go into as much depth as possible about each level of education and the skills that you have taken from it. For example, someone that has undertaken a part time business degree, should explain how this enabled them to learn the theoretical side of business, whilst also gaining hands on experience whilst working alongside their degree.
Social media is a great way to find a new job, as instead of passively sitting back and waiting for the right position to be advertised, you can actively network and look for your next step, even while you are still employed at your present company. The biggest benefit of all is that it takes the power out of the hands of the recruiters and hands it squarely to you.
from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1PASPeg via transformational marketing
from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1ZQFG00
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